Ash Moloney | Brisbane to become the building blocks of greatness

10 events. Two days. One champion.  Olympic bronze medallist Ash Moloney is well acquainted with gruelling nature of the decathlon.  Renowned as the measure of the world’s best all-round athlete, the decathlon demands a unique balance of physical and mental skills including speed, strength, endurance, agility and precision.

For a decathlete of Moloney’s calibre, racing just one event at the Chemist Warehouse Brisbane Track Classic this weekend may seem like a minor task, but his lap around the track in the 400m will mark a crucial step in his preparation for greatness.

Those following Moloney’s career have long hailed him as a prodigy. From setting an age world record upon winning gold at the 2018 World Under 20 Championships, to making history as the first Australian Olympic medallist in the event - it's no surprise that even the likes of French world record holder Kevin Mayer have touted him as a legend. 

Despite the talent at hand, Moloney is not one to rest on his laurels. Over the course of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series, the Australian record holder has weaved together a string of solid performances as the groundwork of something bigger.

With seven of his ten core events so far contested this summer, Australia’s most versatile athlete is experimenting with a new preparation strategy; one he believes could catapult him to a level he once thought to be unachievable.

“This season is all about taking a different approach with competition. It’s the first time I’ve competed at Track Classics outside of Brisbane, but it’s also been about testing the body and the mind, and seeing what I am capable of,” Moloney said.

“As a decathlete, competitions like these are so different for me. Not just in terms of how I’m competing or my mindset, but I come into these competitions still in training mode. I’m not fresh by any means to perform at my best, but there’s been so much thought that has gone into this.”

While his performances thus far have been nothing to brag about by his own admission, Moloney says this season has been less about the results and more about trusting the process.

“In a decathlon, it’s about the grunt work and getting through, and sometimes the processes slip away, particularly towards the end of the 10 events. If I get used to getting them right in these competition environments, it’s something I’ll carry with me. Then when I am fresher, the processes are going to get me a better result,” Moloney said.

“It has been enjoyable but I won’t lie, it’s been a little humbling at the same time. For example, I’m a 7.80m jumper but I’m not really tapering so I’m not jumping at the standard that I’m used to. But, I’ve been able to focus on my rhythm in the long jump run or the technique in the air.”

Aligning his strategy to the international season ahead, Moloney has lofty goals for 2023. Already the Australian record holder with a staggering score of 8,649 achieved when claiming his Olympic bronze, the 22-year-old knows there is more to come as he aims  for a 8,800+ point score – his “dream for this year.”

Having experienced the highs and lows of the sport at the tender age of 22, including having to withdraw from both the Oregon World Championships and Birmingham Commonwealth Games due to chronic injury, Moloney, backed by his team, understands the bigger picture at play:

“The ultimate goal for me is to get to 2032. It’s not about running myself into the ground anymore, it’s about running healthily. It’s taken a while to change by mindset, but now I’m all about finding that rhythm and technique.

“There’s always fear when you know what you were previously doing has worked, but what I was doing before got me to 8,600. I don’t even know if I could repeat that doing what I was doing. Now I’m working on building that and that means change.”

As for the next step in his journey, the 400m at the Brisbane Track Classic, Moloney is ready and raring to take charge of his pet event. He’ll take a deep breath on the start line, his mind will be racing with thoughts but will have confidence in the processes set for the race.

“The 400m isn’t my favourite but it’s an event that separates me from other decathletes. Knowing where I’m at in training, I’d be happy with anything under 47,” Moloney said.

“If I was fresh, that would translate to something very fast and put all my goals in clear sight.”

TIKCETS to the 2023 Chemist Warehouse Brisbane Track Classic can be purchased HERE.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 21/3/2022